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Greek Orthodoxy. Nicole Anastassopoulos Morgan Dunlow Joe Kerner Bridget Maloy. Main Beliefs. Revelation God revealed Himself to us However, Inner Being of God is unknown and unapproachable Incarnation of Jesus Fully divine and fully human Tradition
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Greek Orthodoxy Nicole Anastassopoulos Morgan Dunlow Joe Kerner Bridget Maloy
Main Beliefs • Revelation • God revealed Himself to us • However, Inner Being of God is unknown and unapproachable • Incarnation of Jesus • Fully divine and fully human • Tradition • Keep things the same as original Christianity
Main Beliefs • Authority of Scripture • Holy Scripture and Holy Tradition are equal in value • Holy Spirit • Precedes from Father • One essence with Father • Given by Christ as a gift to the Church • Trinity • Three distinct, divine persons without overlap http://www.hellenic-art.com/chalice/200005.jpg
Main Beliefs • Mary • Has supreme grace, should be highly honored • Reject Immaculate Conception • Predestination • God has knowledge of our future • We have free will • Salvation • Gradual, lifelong process • Eschatology • Go to Heaven or Hell http://www.greek-icons.org/virgin-mary/images/glikophiloussa.jpg
Main Beliefs • Greek Orthodox attach great importance to the bible and the conclusions of the Seven Ecumenical Councils • View on sin, grace and salvation • Humans were given freedom, they misused it and now deserve punishment • Grace -> results in forgiveness and freedom from bondage of punishment • Salvation – process of reestablishing man’s communion with God
Worship Life • Major Holidays • Easter • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=178cEI65fjE • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8RF3lB9pHag&feature=related • Christmas • Receive salvation through worship • Anointing with oil • For those in need of healing
Worship Life • Eucharist • Receive bread and wine from community chalice • Supposed to fast before receiving http://www.stgeorgegreenville.org/Images/Communion.jpg http://02varvara.files.wordpress.com/2008/05/aleksandr-krasotkin-first-communion-1.jpg
Worship Life • Sacraments • Baptism • Chrismation • Confirmation • Occurs at the same time as baptism and communion • Confession • Marriage • Holy Orders • Anointing of the Sick http://farm1.static.flickr.com/71/160455559_17b0d657a6.jpg?v=0
Worship Life • Divine Liturgy • Conducted in Greek and English (in America) • Celebrated once a day • Eucharist usually Sunday mornings • Liturgy of the Catechumens • “Little Entrance” • Gospel from sanctuary into nave • Epistle lesson, Gospel, sermon • Liturgy of the Faithful • “Grand Entrance” • Eucharist • Many prayers and hymns • Use Nicene Creed
Devotions • Practitioners can pray to different icons for special intercessions -Patron Saints • The majority of Greek Orthodox followers have icons in their home http://www.greece.org/romiosini/christ_patocrator.gif http://www.iconsexplained.com/iec/lib3/03432_last_supper_zad_jabbour_695x460.jpg
Devotions • Fasting - essential part of Orthodox life. • Ascetic fasting - four fasting periods of the liturgical calendar refrain from large quantities of food and abstain from certain foods. • Fasting is a means and not an end in the spiritual struggle of its faithful. • One usually fasts according to the guidelines set up by the Church, but one should also seek the guidance of a spiritual father
Devotions • Many people wear crosses and evil eyes on a daily basis • Evil eyes to protect them from the Devil • Crosses to remind them of presence of God
Community and Social Involvement • Department of Philanthropy • primary task: to further develop and coordinate the philanthropic work of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America • not just concerned with fund-raising, hopes to promote philanthropy • coordinates outreach to people with special needs • monitors the development on the federal, state, and city levels, regarding faith-based funding of charitable programs
Community and Social Involvement • Department of Philanthropy • Primarily works with the Ladies Philoptochos Society (“friends of the poor”). • nationally chartered organization assisting the needy and the poor on an international, national, and local level http://www.goarch.org/archdiocese/departments/philanthropy/Ethiopia%20IOCC.jpg
Community and Social Involvement • Many parishes have Sunday School programs • Many also have Greek school programs • Social groups • Different group for each age • Church aims to keep all people involved with their religion and culture http://www.holytrinity-holycross.org/images/GOYALOGO.jpg
Bibliography • Rouvelas, Marilyn and George . A Guide to Greek Traditions and Customs in America. Boston: TwaynePublishers, 2002. Print. • "Distinctive Orthodox Beliefs." Religion Facts. N.p., n.d. Web. 4 May 2010. <http://www.religionfacts.com/christianity/denom inations/orthodoxy.htm>. • Fairchild, Mary. "Eastern Orthodox Church Beliefs and Practices." Christianity . N.p.,n.d. Web. 1 May 2010. <http://christianity.about.com/od/easternorthodo xy/a/orthodoxbeliefs.htm>. • Mastrantonis , Rev. George . "The Fundamental Teachings of the Eastern Orthodox Church." n. pag. Web. 4 May 2010. <http://www.goarch.org/ourfaith/ourfaith7063>.